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Guinea
Africa
Known for its mineral resources, especially bauxite, Guinea has lush landscapes but faces challenges of poverty and political instability.
14,000,000
Population
245,857
Area (km²)
Conakry
Capital
44
Historical Events
Historical Timeline
Cities
44 Events
September 21, 2025 - Guinea holds a constitutional referendum on transitioning to civilian rule; partial results show over 90% approval for the new charter, potentially allowing Doumbouya to run for president, despite opposition boycott and reports of at least 32 protest-related deaths since January.
September 18, 2025 - A gang in Conakry confesses to murders, armed robberies, and weapons trafficking during a police presentation.
September 09, 2025 - The junta begins referring to Doumbouya as "President" instead of "interim President."
August 24, 2025 - The opposition coalition calls for a boycott of the referendum, citing fears of a Doumbouya power grab.
August 23, 2025 - The junta suspends three main opposition parties.
August 22, 2025 - A landslide outside Conakry buries homes, killing 11 and injuring 10.
June 29, 2025 - The Transitional National Council releases the final draft constitution.
June 26, 2025 - Campaign for the constitutional referendum begins, with protests still banned.
February 27, 2025 - Former Prime Minister Ibrahima Kassory Fofana is convicted of corruption and embezzlement, sentenced to five years in prison and fined $230,000.
January 29, 2025 - U.S. rail firm Wabtec signs a $248 million deal for locomotives on the Simandou railway project.
January 07, 2025 - Renewed three-month suspension of major political parties, barring them from the upcoming referendum and elections.
January 01, 2025 - The junta revokes licenses of 46 mining companies as part of a nationalization push.
December 31, 2024 - Doumbouya pledges a referendum and elections in 2025; the junta renews suspensions of most opposition parties.
December 25, 2024 - A former minister is sentenced to five years in prison for corruption.
December 20, 2024 - A journalist is abducted amid tightened military control over media.
December 15, 2024 - A stampede at a football match for the "General Mamadi Doumbouya Trophy" kills at least 135 people.
December 04, 2024 - Doumbouya promotes himself to the rank of full general.
October 31, 2024 - The government dissolves 53 political parties and places 54 under observation, with no election date announced.
October 30, 2024 - A road accident kills 13 people, including children.
October 28, 2024 - The junta fails to hold the promised constitutional referendum and elections, delaying the transition.
September 20, 2024 - Gunfire erupts near the presidential palace in Conakry, prompting a military lockdown.
September 17, 2024 - Claude Pivi, former minister for Presidential Security and a fugitive wanted for the 2009 massacre, is arrested near the Liberian border and extradited.
September 02, 2024 - The junta releases a draft constitution (199 articles), largely prepared in secret.
August 15, 2024 - A court sentences Moussa Tiegboro Camara, a former junta leader, to 20 years in prison for his role in the 2009 stadium massacre.
August 01, 2024 - A mine collapse kills dozens of artisanal workers, highlighting safety risks in the mining sector.
July 09, 2024 - The HAC bans four radio stations and two TV channels for critical reporting.
May 21, 2024 - Prominent opposition figures Oumar Sylla (Foniké Menguè) and Mamadou Billo Bah are kidnapped and disappear.
February 29, 2024 - Mamadou Oury Bah, a former opposition leader, is appointed prime minister.
February 28, 2024 - A general strike paralyzes Conakry in protest against the junta; security forces shoot dead two demonstrators during clashes.
February 25, 2024 - ECOWAS lifts economic sanctions imposed after the 2021 coup.
February 19, 2024 - The National Committee of Reconciliation and Development (CNRD) dissolves the interim government as the transition deadline approaches.
January 23, 2024 - An audit of political parties leads to the dissolution of several, suspension of others, or placement under observation.
January 01, 2024 - Doumbouya announces plans for a constitutional referendum and presidential/legislative elections in 2024.
December 31, 2023 - Opposition leader Aliou Bah is sentenced to two years in prison for "offending and defaming" junta leader Mamady Doumbouya.
December 15, 2023 - A fire at a fuel depot in Conakry is extinguished, with no casualties reported.
December 06, 2023 - Saadou Nimaga, former Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Mines and Geology, disappears.
November 01, 2023 - Armed commandos storm a prison in Conakry, freeing former military dictator Moussa Dadis Camara and three associates.
October 20, 2023 - The media regulator (HAC) suspends several radio and TV outlets for "security imperatives," amid crackdowns on critical coverage.
October 16, 2023 - 13 journalists are arrested during a peaceful protest demanding the unblocking of the online news outlet Guinée Matin.
October 01, 2023 - After ECOWAS negotiations, the junta agrees to hold elections by the end of 2024.
August 01, 2023 - Torrential rains cause severe flooding, displacing thousands and damaging infrastructure.
May 01, 2023 - Protests by the Forces Vives de la Guinée against the junta's slow transition lead to violent repression, with over 70 people killed in political violence.
April 01, 2023 - Djene Kaba Conde, wife of ousted former President Alpha Condé, dies in Paris.
February 15, 2023 - A demonstration against the slow transition to civilian rule in Conakry is met with violence by security forces.
Frequently Asked Questions About Guinea
100 Questions
Guinea is in West Africa, bordered by Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and the Atlantic Ocean.
The capital is Conakry, located on the Atlantic coast.
Around 15 million people as of 2025 estimates.
French is the official language; local languages include Susu, Fulani (Pular), and Maninka.
Tropical, with a rainy season (May–October) and a dry season (November–April).
The Guinean franc (GNF).
Red, yellow, and green vertical stripes.
Conakry, Nzérékoré, Kankan, Kindia, and Labé.
On October 2, 1958, from France.
Ahmed Sékou Touré.
Mamady Doumbouya, head of the transitional government after the 2021 coup (as of 2025).
Currently a transitional military government with plans for elections.
Fulani (largest), Malinké, and Susu, plus smaller groups.
Islam (around 85%), Christianity, and traditional beliefs.
Around $22 billion in 2025 estimates.
About $1,450.
Around 45%.
About 62 years.
Around 4.6 children per woman.
Around 65%.
Bauxite, gold, diamonds, coffee, and agricultural products.
Machinery, food, fuel, and manufactured goods.
Huge reserves of bauxite, iron ore, gold, diamonds, and fertile land.
Because of its massive untapped mineral resources.
The capital, port, and cultural hub.
Largest city in the forested south, center of trade.
A major city in Upper Guinea, historically important in trade and Islam.
The cultural and commercial capital of the Fouta Djallon highlands.
Mount Nimba (1,752 m), a UNESCO World Heritage site.
It begins in Guinea and flows through West Africa.
Rice, cassava, maize, and fonio (a traditional grain).
A dish made with leafy greens, peanut sauce, and rice.
A chicken or fish dish with onions and lemon sauce.
Green tea (attaya), palm wine, and ginger drinks.
Football, wrestling, and athletics.
Syli Nationale (“National Elephant”).
Yes, several times, reaching the final in 1976.
Not yet.
Naby Keïta, Pascal Feindouno, and Titi Camara.
Yes, mostly in athletics and judo.
Griot traditions, Afro-pop, reggae, and hip-hop.
Kora, balafon, drums, and flutes.
Traditional musicians, historians, and storytellers.
Djembe and dunun drum dances, performed at ceremonies.
Colorful boubous and woven fabrics, often hand-dyed.
They are central in markets and farming but face gender inequality.
Around 38%.
Around 52%.
High, especially among youth.
Over 70%.
Rice, cassava, maize, fonio, and groundnuts.
Cattle, goats, sheep, and poultry.
Underdeveloped, with limited facilities outside cities.
Malaria, HIV/AIDS, TB, and waterborne diseases.
Ebola outbreaks, especially 2014–2016.
High, though improving.
One of the highest in the world.
“Liberté.”
“Work, Justice, Solidarity.”
The elephant.
The African fish eagle.
The hibiscus.
Chimpanzees, leopards, hippos, and diverse birdlife.
Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve, Badiar National Park, and Haut Niger National Park.
A UNESCO World Heritage site with rich biodiversity.
A large park protecting savannah and forests.
A reserve on the Senegal border, part of the Niokolo-Koba ecosystem.
Around 60%, higher than adults.
Around $1,450 annually.
Declining, but still high.
Around 40%, with most people in rural areas.
Farming, livestock, and small markets dominate life.
Hydropower, imported fuel, and biomass.
High in hydro, solar, and wind.
Corruption, poor infrastructure, and overreliance on mining.
Transition from military rule to democracy.
Historic ties, though Guinea broke early with French influence in 1958.
Largest investor in mining and infrastructure.
Pressures the military to return to civilian rule.
Active member, though suspended after coups.
It contributes to peacekeeping missions.
A military takeover after President Lansana Conté’s death.
Colonel Mamady Doumbouya overthrew President Alpha Condé.
President from 2010–2021, overthrown after seeking a controversial third term.
Military ruler from 1984–2008.
First president (1958–1984), who ruled as a socialist dictator.
High, often over 10%.
Moderate, with most living in highland and coastal areas.
Wood carving, weaving, pottery, and jewelry.
Central to culture, with griots preserving history through song.
Independence Day (Oct 2), Tabaski (Eid al-Adha), and regional harvest festivals.
Around 14% difference.
Around 5 years.
Lower than in rural areas.
Fighting malaria, Ebola, and maternal mortality.
Poor access in rural areas and underfunded schools.
Rapid, with a young population.
A major source of minerals, especially bauxite.
Dependent on political stability and responsible mining.
It is rich in resources, historically independent-minded, and central to West African politics.